St. Paul woman accused of chasing, damaging car

Article by: ANTHONY LONETREE

Star Tribune

October 13, 2011 - 7:34 PM

Her estranged husband was riding in a car with another woman, and Laquita M. Bryant, 28, of St. Paul, didn't like what she saw, so she followed the vehicle in quick and reckless fashion, authorities say.

She did not know, she would claim later, that the car she was pursuing had a baby on board.

Bryant drove St. Paul side streets from the Frogtown area to the west edge of downtown at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour, bumping the rear of the other woman's car and sideswiping the driver's side mirror, police said.

The pursuit ended about 5:15 p.m. Monday in a parking lot at the Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. There, according to charges filed Wednesday against Bryant, she tossed a child booster seat into the rear window of the other woman's car.

In the back seat, facing a now-shattered window, was a 6-month-old girl. She escaped injury, but was crying and had glass pieces in her hair.

The baby's mother had to calm herself before speaking to officers.

She said that she and the suspect's estranged husband, Dwayne D. Reliford, 30, were co-workers at a Woodbury store, and that she had met him that afternoon to hang out, according to the Ramsey County District Court complaint filed against Bryant.

Bryant gave chase after spotting them at Dale Street and University Avenue.

Reliford told police that Bryant was screaming, "I'm going to kill her," during the incident, the charges say.

When interviewed by police, Bryant allegedly admitted to driving at high speeds and throwing the booster seat. But she denied hitting the other vehicle while driving, and said that she was trying to hit her husband, and not the vehicle, when she tossed the seat. She said she did not know there was a baby was in the car.

Bryant has been charged with first-degree criminal damage to property. Her next court appearance is set for Oct. 26.

When the incident occurred, she was under court supervision for careless driving and other traffic offenses.